Stamp-affixing apparatus.



PTBNIHD AUG.13, 1907.

H. HAUIDA. S MMV APFIXING APPARATUS.

y VFA/70;?

APPLICATION FILED MAR.3.1906.

Y ratchet wheel and of the catch or locking device.

PATENT oEEIcE.

HENRY HADIDA, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

STAMP-AFFIXING APPARATUS. I

Specificationof Letters Patent.

Patentes Aug. 1s, 1907.

Application filed Harsh 3, 1906. Serial No. 304,102.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, HENRY HADIDA, a subject oi' the King of England, residing n.24 Rood Lane, in the city and county of London, England, merchant, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stamp- Aflixing Apparatus, of whichpthe' following is a full, clear, and vexact description, 'reference being made therein tothe accompanying drawings,

This invention relates to an 'improved apparatus for afiixing stamps, labels ,and the like to envelops, certicates, lace, piece-goods and the like.

It consists of a machine which is supplied with forated strips of stamps or labelsLth-e stamps being detached, moistened on the underside and applied to the letter or other surface as the result of a single blow upon a plunger. Y 3

A'machine made according to the present invention is also characterized by being compact, self-contained and of simple construction; by the stamp being delivered and impressed by the same device which cuts it from the strip and at the same operation as the lattei; by the construction and operation of the device for moistening the underside of the stamp-or label; and

by the disengageable device for feeding forward the stamp strip.

The invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-. i

Figure l is a side elevation and Fig. 2 is a'plan of a machine for aixing ordinary postage stamps to letters. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation. Fig. 4 is a iront view at right angles to Fig. l but showing a portion of the casing removed. Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views of the Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view showing the thumb piece h and its lever arm.

The stamps a are wound in a singleV strip or in connected continuous strips around a drum d revolubly mounted in suitable bearings c upon the machine.

The stamps when actually being fed forward have their gummed side underneath. lf desired, a brake (not shown) .may be applied to the spindle or other convenient portion of the ldrum so as to retard the unwinding of the latter. From this drum the strip a is carried to a feed roller d secured on a spindle d. This `roller is provided with a milled periphery d2'and the strip a is maintained against the'latter by any suitable device. In the drawings a second roller e is shown for this purpose mounted at one end of a plate f which is at its other end pivoted to the machine at f f. A plate spring g acts upon the underside of this pivoted plate f to hold the roller e normally against the roller d and this spring.. g may be depressed by means of a thumb-piece h. The latter is shown arranged transversely of the machine andv secured at one end to an arm h which may at its 'other end be pivoted' at h to the casing of the machine f or be formed as a spring larm secured thereto.- 'The ar-` rangement in either case issuch that when the thumb piece h is operated, the spring g is held down and the pivoted plate f falls by its own weight. so that the roller `e is no longer pressed against the roller d.

The upper side of the plate f acts as a feed .plateor track for the strip a and iscontinued almost up to the knife edge or blade 'i which is arranged across the path ofthe strip a. This blade is located'to one -side of a plunger barrel j and the foremost stamp projects over the blade 'i and remainsimmediately above or even rests upon the innerl ends of two pivoted levers p p, forming a moisteningA device. It will be thus seen that if the thumb piece be depressed the strip of stamps a can be moved freely upon the4 plate f so that the position of the perforated line between the first and second stamp can be xed with certainty at any time.

The plunger preferably consists ofa tube k and stem Z with a helical spring j interposed and the plunger is movable vertically in the barrel j. Spring j serves to return the plunger after its descent, being compressed between the knob head y and the cross stud o. TheV plunger may be of any convenient shape and appearance, but is shown on the drawings as of tubular rectan guiar section. The lowermost part of the plunger stem Z is enlarged to form an abutment m for a second spring f2; the end or head n is fitted with one or more pins, needle points or the like 11.. Both these inner and outer parts 1c, l, are slotted, as shown at k, l in Figs. 3 and 4, and the outer one to a greater length than the inner one.

' A stud o projects into these slots Ic', l/ from the barrel,

and the pin n shown may pass through either a cut-away part or a perforation a plug or stop-piece fitted in the bottom of theouter part k. The inner spring j? bears upon the shoulder-formed on stem l its upper end being confined by the shank'y of the knob head y, so as to keep the pin head n, n extended to move with the part k until the stud o is struck by the extremity of the slot l.

The pivoted levers p are provided at their outer ends with reservoirs or wells p for water so that the inner ends, provided with felt pads, brushes or the like q q may be kept constantly moistened. Communication exists between the pad and the well by a passage or other arrangement, and if preferred the pad may be kept moistened by means of capillary attraction. These levers may be hollow therefore and they' are pivoted freely in the sides of the barrel j, their inner ends q standing in the path of the plunger. If the stamps are not already gumrned, the -pads q may, instead of applying water to a gurnmed surface, actually supply the necessary adhesive material such as gum to the underside 'of the stamp. i

Upon the spindle d and so as to rotatestep by step withv the roller d are secured a ratchet wheel r and s.

notched wheel s. I The wheel r is fitted withteeth of 110,2 such a length that the advance of this wheel r to the err- 1' I. 'i tent of one tooth will result in the strip a being fed for:

ward to the extent of the length of one stamp. Wheel r is operated by a pawl t liuked or otherwise connected to the plunger so as to be operated by the upward movement of the latter. The connection between the pawl t and the plunger may be carried out in any convenient manner, the form shown being by means of the rod t) which is held away from the barrel (so that t will engage the ratchet teeth as it rises) by a small plunger x pressed outwardly by a spring x In Fig. 5 the pawl t has just lifted the ratchet tooth. Y

The notched wheel s is locked by means of a pawl or projection u backed by a. spring-pressed bar u which normally holds the wheel s and therefore the rollend. stationary, By means oa pawl v operating during the rise oi the plunger the bar u is lifted and the catch u .withdrawn from the'particular notch inthe wheel and l this action takes place immediately before the pawl t operates to rotate the wheel r.' The plunger k l lifts the extremity oi the bar u by means of the pawl o, as stated, and this pawl is also pressed outwardly by a small plunger it and the spring x', see Fig. 6.

On the downward stroke of the plunger 1p l the pawls `t v oi 'course ride over the wheel r and the extremity of bar u respectively.

Below the moistening levers p the barrel is cut away to allow oi the insertion oi the envelop in the desired the, edge t', the loose stamp remaining impaled upon the pin. The continued downward movement of the plunger presses the stamp upon` the pads q pushing asldethe facing ends of the levers p. By this means it is insured that the underside of the 'stamp dampened. The completion of the descent of the plunger applies vthe moistened stamp to the envelop inserted upon the table at'the base oi the barrel. Owing, however, to the difference in lengths of the slots k l formed in the lower half of the plunger, the extremity of the slot in the pin-headed part meets the limiting stud o before the lower half of the plunger reaches the envelop. There is therefore no risk of the pin entering the envelop because the pin n is withdrawn to some slight extent into the outer or bottom part of the lower half of the plunger. The stamp is removed from the pin and continued in its downward movement by the part of the plunger which is fitted with the longer slot and detaches the stamp from the pin.

The use of the pin (or pins) n is advantageous since it holds the stamp irrnly and prevents it from escaping during the downward movement of the plunger.

As the plunger returns upwardly, being so impelled by the spring or springs j, the wheel r is rotated by pawl t and another stamp pushed over the blade t'. The levers p face one another again at their inner ends and if so arranged support the stamp a. The feeding forward of the strip unwinds the drum and this movement of the latter may, as stated be restricted to the necessary amount by the brake before mentioned.

A pad w of some comparatively soft material such as rubber or leather 'may be provided in the base of the machine below the plunger to act as a cushioning device ior the latter.

The apparatus may be applied to other purposes in which a stamp, label or the like is to be affixed to a surface such as in the case of certiiicates, strips of materials, samples of soit goods andthe like.

Instead oi' the strip a being perforatedit may consist of a continuous strip having merely printed thereon the desired stamps, labels ,or the like without intermediate perforations.

The stem l is suitably guided within the cylinder k. .In the accompanying drawings, (see Fig. 3) 1 have shown the socket k provided with a knob head y screwed tlrereto and this head is furnished with a central guide z for the stem l.

Having thus `described my invention what I claim as such and desire to secure by Letters Patent is;-

1. A vstamplai'ning apparatus comprisinga depressible hollow plunger', a barrel in which said plunger is arranged to travel reciprocally, springs within said hollow plunger, a drum upon which a strip of stamps is wound, a feed roller operated by the return movement of the plunger', said feed roller having a milled periphery so as to grip said strip, a pressure roller adapted to hold said stamp ystrip against said feed roller and a fixed blade mounted in said `guide barrel and over which said strip is fed.

2i A stamp-aixing machine comprising a reciprocable plunger1 a casing, a fixed blade, means for feeding a stamp strip forward over said fixed blade so that the foremost stamp is in the path of the plunger and a `double armed moistening device fulcrumed' on the exterior of the 'casing and having one lever arm in the path of the plunger below said stamp and the other arm forming a reservoir and balance'welghr, the inner arm of said moistening device being displa'ceable laterally to allow the moistened stamp to be impressed by the plunger. I

3. A stamp aiiixing machine comprising a tubular plunger, a spring concealed within said plunger, a. guide for said plunger, a device for feeding forward a strip of labels, a blade fixed in the guide and over which said labels are fed, n displaceable moistening pad situated below said blade mounted on a lever fulcrumed intermediate of its length and balanced by a water reservoir, and an operative device for shearing the label ver said blade pressing it upon the pad and applying it at the same stroke to its intended surface,

4. A stamp-ainxing machine comprising means for automatically feeding forward a strip of stamps, means for detaching the foremost stamp and moistening its underside, an impaling device for holding the stamp in position and means for detaching said stamp from said impaling device and atxing it to the surface which is to bear it, the whole of these operations being performed by a single forward and return stroke of an operating device.

5. A stamp-aihxing apparatus comprising a plunger device secured to and reciprocable in said apparatus, means for mpaling a stamp, said means being carried by said plunger device, and means operating on the downward movement of the plunger device for detaching the impaled stamp from its transxing device.

6. A stamp-amazing apparatus comprising a base, a bar rel secured upon said base, the lower part of said barrel v being cut away laterally to allow of the insertion of the surface on which the stamp is to be impressed, a cushion.

f7- A stamp-siiixlng apparatus comprising a base, a casing mounted on said base, a barrel secured upon said base and having its lower part cut away laterally, a plunger reciprocable in said barrel and provided with means for shearing a stamp and `engaging such sheared stamp, -a revoluble drum upon which the stamps or labels are wound in a strip, said drum being mounted on an axle and said axle being removably seated in slotted supports in said casing, a feed roller having a milled periphery and adapted to be rotated to a predetermined extent by the movement of the plunger', a plate track for the stamp-strip leading such strip from the said drum to said feed roller, said track being pivoted at one end and spring supported at the other end, a pressure roller mounted on said plate track and held by a spring against said feed roller, and a blade over which said strip is fed, said blade being arranged in prolongation of said track.

8. A stamp-aixing apparatus comprising means' for feeding forward a strip of stamps, a plunger secured in a harrel mounted on said apparatus, a spring concealed within said plunger, a moistening device comprising double arm levers, the inner ends of which project into the path of said plunger, and a table at the foot of said barrel upon which the surfacevfor the stamp is laid, said table being tted with a cushioning device and said plunger displacing the moistening device sidewise after having pressed the stamp thereon.

9. In a stamp aixing apparatus, a plunger comprising a stem and a cylinder, said stem being guided in said cylinder, a perforated base to said cylinder, a pin upon the lower end of said stem projecting through said perforated hase, a barrel for said plunger mounted on said apparatus, slots in said stem and cylinder, the slot in said cylinder being longer than the slots in said stem, a cross piece secured in the plunger cylinder and projecting through said slots and serving towards the end of the depression stroke of the plunger to withdraw said pin into said cylinder,

10. A stamp aixing apparatus comprising a depressihle plungerof uniform width, a barrel for guiding said plunger and extending over the greater portion of the length of said plunger, a blade over which a strip of stamps is fed, a lever pivoted intermediate of its length upon the apparatus having one end projecting into the barrel, said lever containing liquid and having. an absorbent surface secured upon the inner arm of the lever, the outer portion of said lever acting as alever being adapted to be tilted by the downward -stroke of the plunger so that the reservoir then feeds the inner end of the lever.

12. In a stamp atiixing apparatus, a feed roller having reservoir, said a milled periphery, means for intermittently rotating said feed roller, a pivoted track, a smooth surfaced roller secured upon the free end of said track, said smooth roller being held against said feed roller by a spring arm.

13. ln a stamp adixing machine, a reciprocable plunger, a feed roller having a milled periphery, an axle for said roller, a notched Vwheel mounted on said axle, a ratchet wheel also mounted on said axle, a pawl engaging said ratchet wheel, a locking device engaging said notched wheel, hoch pawl and locking device being operated by the aforesaid plunger, a double-armed moistening device fulcrumed intermediate of its length and also operated by said lever so as to be displaced laterally after having moistened the 'underside of the stamp.

14. A stamp aiiixing apparatus which comprises a reciprocating plunger device, means for automatically feeding forward a strip of stamps, a yielding plate track pivoted at one end and at the other carrying a roller which forms part of said feed device, a pawl and ratchet mechanism for the operation of a feed roller, a locking device for the latter, a trip device secured on the plunger which upon the return stroke disconnects and releases the said locking device, and a spring pushed link carrying the said pawl and operating immediately after such action of the trip device.

15. In a stamp aixing machine, a track pivoted at one end to the machine, a pressureroller mounted at the free end of the track, a feed roller mounted on the machine and against which said pressure roller bears, a spring arm supporting said track intermediate of its length, and a. lever pivoted upon the machine and adapted to hold said spring arm away` from the track.

16. In a stamp aiixing machine, a plunger, pawls linked thereon, spring controlled means for actuating said pawls, and a roller having ratchet teeth thereon actuated and controlled by said pawls for feeding forwardvto an exact extent a strip of stamps.

17. A stamp axing macl-lne comprisingl a base, a barrel supported vertically upon said base, a cut away portion to said barrel, a cushioning pad upon said base below said barrel, a plunger reciprocating in said barrel, a blade fixed in the wall of said barrel, means for feeding forward a strip of stamps over said blade, lever arms pivoted upon said machine and having their inner ends arrangednormaily to face one another in said barrel said inner ends having moistening pads, a head to said plunger, a pin upon said head in prolongation thereof, said pin being capable of receding into said plunger, and means for actuating the stamp feed operated by the return stroke of said plunger.

In testimony whereof I atiix my signature in presence of two witnesses. i

HENRY HADIDA.

Witnesses:

VxcfroB F. FnnNY, H. D. JAMESON. 

